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australian rowers profiles and history

Terence (Terry) Richard Hynes

Ballarat City Rowing Club (VIC)

Terence (Terry) Richard Hynes was born at Allendale, kilometres from Ballarat. He was the fifth son of seven sons of parents Michael and Mary Hynes. His father Michael Hynes was a pioneer of the Ballarat and Allendale gold fields. Michael was born in Ireland and came to Australia in the 1860’s. He died in 1928 in Ballarat and the report of his passing stated “…he was a man of splendid physique, no work was too hard and no danger too great for him to engage in. He was well known in the Allendale district, where he was widely known and highly honoured for his sterling manhood and his honourable dealing. He was the father of seven sons, four of whom survive. Two sons went to war, and one, Sergeant Terence Hynes, made the supreme sacrifice, the other Lieutenant Arthur Hynes, M.C, is now in Ballarat. Two other sons are well known residents of Williamstown and one is in New Zealand.”

Terence grew up in Allendale and was educated at the Catholic school there. His parents moved to Ballarat in the early 1900’s and lived in Grant Street Ballarat and then moved to Moyle Street after he was posted overseas. When he finished school he took up a plumbing apprenticeship and was working as for Tulloch and King before he moved to NSW in about 1914.  He was member of the Ballarat City Rowing Club for about three years, joining in about 1910. In February 1910 he raced at Ballarat Regatta in the club’s Maiden eight. The Maiden eight were Hugh Conran, stroke, W. Halse, 7, S. Humphries, 6, A. Chisholm, 5, Terence Hynes, 4, W. Bryant, 3, Peter Cram 2 and Hugh Blick bow. In 1913 he was stroke of the City eight. He was a popular and very social member of the club. 

Terence was 5 feet 10 and ½ inches tall and weighed 180 pounds with brown eyes and dark brown hair according to his enlistment papers. He obviously took after his father in physique. He enlisted from The Rock, NSW on the 7th of August 1915 and embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT A62 Wandilla on the 6th of June 1916. He was killed in action in Belgium on 7th June 1917. On his record its says “Missing, last seen on morning of 7/06/1917 proceeding to dig Russian sap near Anton’s Farm, supposed to have been hit by a shell.” He is buried at the Strand Military Cemetery, Plot VII, Row G, Grave No. 5, Ploegsteert, Belgium. 

These heartfelt In memoriam notices were placed by his friends in the Daily Advertiser, Wagga Wagga:-

IN MEMORIAM. HYNES.—On June 7, 1917, somewhere in France, our friend, No. 442, Sergeant Terry Hynes, 3rd Australian Pioneers, Somewhere in France he is lying, He answered his country's call; He died an Australian hero, The finest death of all. — Inserted by old friends, J. and E. O'Keeffe, The Rock. (Ballarat "Courier" please copy.) 

IN MEMORIAM. HYNES.— Sergeant Terence Richard Hynes, killed in action, June 7, 1917, in France. Your country called you from our midst, But never from our hearts; You live with us in memory still, And will until the last. — Inserted by his comrades, ex-Private. E. Hussey, Mrs. E. Hussey, and God-son, little Jack, "Garry Owen," The. Rock.

Terence’s younger brother Lieutenant Arthur Hynes of the 31st Battalion, enlisted on the 14th of July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne on the 5th of November 1915. He was also at the Western Front and Egypt, was wounded on three occasions and returned to fight. He also did officer training at Cambridge and was promoted to Lieutenant. Arthur was awarded the Military Cross 3rd of June 1919 after his return to Australia on 22nd of May 1919.

The citation reads: Military Cross

'On 30th August 1918, near Villers Carbonnel, he displayed great gallantry and skill in the way he led a fighting patrol across the Somme in face of heavy artillery and machine gun fire and attacked the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. On receiving orders to retire, as the bridges behind him were broken down, he withdrew his men in perfect order, being himself the last to cross. His courage under heavy fire and good leadership were worthy of high praise.'

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67
Date: 3 June 1919


Kate Elliott
October 2021

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